In autumn 2014, the Lithuanian Minister for Education and Science approved two important action plans establishing directions for long-term development and financing of vocational education and training (VET) and non-formal adult education.
1. Action plan for VET development 2014–16
This action plan provides general directions for VET development and identifies related projects. The following measures are foreseen:
- optimisation of VET institutions network and effective use of infrastructure;
- optimisation of VET programmes provision carried out by VET institutions and their quality;
- improvement of assessment and recognition of competences;
- improvement of training of teachers;
- increasing attractiveness of VET;
- improvement of management and training quality of VET;
- provision of vocational guidance services.
The plan contains a preliminary list of projects to be funded, the operational programme for European Union structural Fund investments from 2014 to 2020. The following projects are worth noting:
- formation of Lithuanian qualifications framework and modern curricula;
- capacity improvement of managers of educational institutions;
- development of sector-specific practical training centres;
- infrastructure development of VET institutions with no sector-specific practical training centres;
- raising awareness of lifelong learning and increasing attractiveness of VET;
- support acquisition of international experience by teachers;
- improvement of teachers’ competences, including key and technological competences;
- development of a system for assessment of competences and recognition of education or qualifications acquired abroad;
- development of information systems and registers;
- external assessment of VET institutions and programmes;
- provision of quality career education services;
- offer mobility opportunities for VET students;
- support students (18+) from socially vulnerable groups in VET.
2. Action plan for development of non-formal adult education 2014–16
This action plan aims at:
- enabling adults to acquire key competences and shaping positive attitudes towards lifelong learning;
- creating favourable conditions for lifelong learning in VET and higher education institutions, and ensuring their quality;
- developing a system of financial and organisational incentives leading to better conditions for adult participation in lifelong learning activities.
To promote lifelong learning, it is foreseen to increase supply of modular non-formal VET programmes for adults and provide specific vocational guidance services for adults. It is also planned to implement projects for recognition of competences and/or qualifications.
The plan contains a preliminary list of projects to be funded from the operational programme for the European Union structural Fund investments from 2014 to 2020.
It is foreseen to:
- support adult education in all education sectors and development of key competences;
- support learning opportunities for older people;
- improve quality of non-formal adult education.
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